Impact of Energy Enterprise Exports on Technological Innovation: PSM Analysis Based on Chinese Industrial Enterprise Database

Abstract

Export is an important way to promote the innovation and growth of energy enterprises by learning new knowledge and technology. To explore the impact mechanism of energy enterprises’ export behaviour on technological innovation, this article uses the micro data of 8,548 energy enterprises in the Chinese Industrial Enterprise Database from 2004 to 2007 for propensity score matching analysis, from the two dimensions of technological innovation willingness and technological innovation capability. The empirical results show that (a) the export behaviour of energy enterprises has a significant promotion effect on the technological innovation willingness and capability of energy enterprises; export behaviour has a continuous promotion effect on the technological innovation willingness of energy enterprises, and this promotion effect has gradually increased. There is a time lag in the promotion effect of export behaviour on the technological innovation capability of energy enterprises, and this promotion effect is gradually increasing. (b) Compared with non-state-owned energy enterprises, export behaviours have a more immediate effect on the technological innovation willingness of state-owned energy enterprises; compared with small and medium-sized energy enterprises, export behaviours have a more positive impact on the technological innovation willingness and capabilities of large energy enterprises.